Donald Trump Protest Call Sparks New York Court To Put Up Barricades

Former President Donald Trump stated that he would be arrested on Tuesday and urged his supporters to protest
Hundreds of riot police officers have been deployed in anticipation of civil unrest in New York
The Manhattan District Attorney's Office prepares to file criminal charges against Trump

On Monday, workers erected barriers surrounding a Manhattan courtroom in preparation for a possible indictment of Former President Donald Trump for an alleged hush-money payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign.

It would be the first-ever criminal prosecution against a president of the United States. Saturday, Donald Trump urged his social media followers to oppose his impending arrest.

Donald Trump Calls for Protests

With his call for protests, Trump heightened law enforcement's worries that protesters would engage in violence comparable to the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Yet, fearing a trap, numerous far-right grassroots organizations have decided not to follow his appeal, according to security specialists.

A grand jury that heard further testimony on Monday may bring charges as early as this week. Trump, seeking the Republican nomination for president again in 2024, anticipated that he would be detained on Tuesday.

On Monday, attorney Robert Costello testified before the grand jury that former Trump fixer Michael Cohen conducted the hush-money payments without Trump's input. Cohen, who has already testified before a grand jury, has publicly stated that Trump instructed him to make the payments on his behalf, Reuters reported.

An indictment might hinder Trump's effort at a comeback. According to a seven-day Reuters/Ipsos poll that finished on Monday, 44% of Republicans believe he should withdraw from the presidential campaign if he is prosecuted.

The inquiry by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is one of the many legal obstacles Trump faces. Cohen pled guilty in 2018 to federal campaign finance crimes stemming from his arrangement of payments to Daniels, whose official name is Stephanie Clifford, and another woman in return for their quiet on alleged encounters with Trump.

According to reports from last week, New York law enforcement has been preparing for the possibility that Trump would be indicted.

Trump fanned the flames of panic over the weekend when he hinted he might be detained on Tuesday and urged his supporters to take to the streets in protest. According to Washington Examiner, Trump's speculation that he might be detained on Tuesday is unclear.

On Monday, a grand jury assigned to the matter allegedly takes testimony from a lawyer called Robert Costello, whose testimony was requested by Trump's associates. He is expected to have a testimony that might contradict the statement of star witness and former Trump attorney Michael Cohen.

At issue is an alleged $130,000 payment to Daniels during the 2016 election season in exchange for her silence over an affair she claims to have had with Trump almost a decade earlier. According to reports, prosecutors are focusing on whether this constituted a violation of campaign funding laws and if the Trump Organization altered records of the occurrence.

New York Authorities on High Alert Amid Rumored Trump Arrest

The New York Police Department (NYPD) and the United States Secret Service are reportedly prepared for potential disruption in response to Former President Donald Trump's statement that he will be arrested on Tuesday.

The office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the FBI, and state court officials have been made aware of the security talks, and the NYPD's Strategic Response Group is prepared to take action if necessary.

On Monday, many agencies are set to reconvene to discuss security measures, such as barring vehicle access to the Manhattan courtroom and stationing cops inside and outside the structure. The office of Bragg has not confirmed nor denied a forthcoming indictment.

Kevin Maloney, the NYPD's Deputy Commissioner of Public Information, claimed that the department would treat the case like any other and that there would be contacts with intelligence bureaus and interested parties at the federal courts and the DA's office.

He said that he would presume they would have early information on the event schedule and would guard the courthouse's entrances and exits. The rumored impending arrest of Donald Trump has escalated tensions, with law enforcement agencies bracing for potential violence.

Per NY Post, Bragg's office has not confirmed any impending indictments. However, law enforcement authorities are on high alert and taking the proper procedures to protect the public.